Payload

Open-source headless CMS and application framework built with TypeScript, React, and Node.js. Provides a code-first schema with full type safety, a local API for direct database access, and a built-in admin panel. Designed for developers who want full control over their backend while getting an instant data layer and content UI.

Payload installs directly into any Next.js application with a single command, combining frontend and backend in one deployment. Unlike separate headless CMS services such as Contentful or Strapi, it runs as part of your codebase with no external API round-trips. It supports serverless deployment on Vercel and other platforms, with React Server Components and Turbopack support.

Key capabilities:

• Code-first schema definition in TypeScript with automatic type generation
• Local API for server-side database access without HTTP overhead
• Built-in authentication, access control, and customizable verification
• Support for PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SQLite with pluggable database adapters
• Visual editing, multi-locale content, and digital asset management
• RAG and vector embedding support for AI-powered search and retrieval
• Self-hosted deployment with full control over infrastructure

Teams use Payload for headless content delivery, headless e-commerce backends, internal tools, and enterprise applications. Developers define collections and fields in code, get a REST and GraphQL API automatically, and extend the admin UI with custom React components. Integration with existing Next.js routes and middleware keeps the backend and frontend in a single codebase.